{"id":3194,"date":"2025-06-17T17:47:39","date_gmt":"2025-06-17T17:47:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/nursing\/?p=3194"},"modified":"2025-06-17T18:01:52","modified_gmt":"2025-06-17T18:01:52","slug":"personality-traits-to-be-a-nurse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/nursing\/2025\/06\/17\/personality-traits-to-be-a-nurse\/","title":{"rendered":"If You\u2019ve Got These 3 Personality Traits, You\u2019re Meant to Be a Nurse \u2014 According to Real Nurses"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wondering if you\u2019ll make a good nurse? We asked three professional nurses to share the childhood traits that eventually became their biggest strengths in healthcare.<\/p>\n

Empathy<\/h2>\n
\"Four
Anja Deitmer, second from left, a pediatric nurse, draws on her natural empathy to guide children and their families through some of their most difficult healthcare experiences.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Anja Deitmer<\/a> – Pediatric Nurse<\/strong><\/p>\n

“From a young age, I was drawn to comforting others, whether it was a classmate who was upset or a friend who was injured on the playground. What I didn’t recognize back then was that this natural sense of empathy and steady reassurance would become one of my most valuable strengths as a pediatric nurse, especially when supporting children and families through challenging moments.”<\/p>\n

Communication<\/h2>\n
\"School
Sarah Kelly, right, debriefs with 4-year BSN students following a simulation exercise in Montclair\u2019s immersive Simulation Center.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sarah Kelly<\/a> – Nurse Educator<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cGrowing up, my mom always said, \u2018since I learned to talk, I have not stopped talking.\u2019 I was good at talking to and with people I knew, as well as those I didn’t know. Communication is key to being an effective nurse. Talking with patients in the hospital who are lonely and want someone to listen to them can make all the difference.\u201d<\/p>\n

Curiosity<\/h2>\n

Elizabeth Fitzgerald<\/a> – Emergency Room\/Trauma Nurse<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAs a child I was always asking ‘why’. I wanted to know how things worked and why things were happening. This has translated into a strong desire to understand what is going on with my patients and how the human body works.\u201d<\/p>\n

I Don\u2019t Have These Traits. Can I Still Become A Nurse?<\/h2>\n

Yes! Empathy, communication and curiosity aren\u2019t just personality traits \u2014 they\u2019re skills you can build. Even if you\u2019re naturally shy or introverted, you can absolutely become a great nurse.<\/p>\n

If you feel the calling to become a nurse, Montclair State University\u2019s 4-Year BSN Program<\/a> can help you grow into the nurse you\u2019ve always wanted to be.<\/p>\n

Montclair\u2019s curriculum is a blend of theory and practice \u2014 giving you both the hard and soft skills you\u2019ll need to become an effective nurse.<\/p>\n

Humanities coursework will help you strengthen your empathy and communication skills, allowing you to care for patients from all walks of life.<\/p>\n

Hands-on training \u2014 including practice with intelligent simulators and regular clinical practicums \u2014 will give you the technological skills and confidence needed to thrive in any healthcare setting.<\/p>\n

\"Closeup
4-year BSN students use a bag-valve-mask device to perform CPR on a simulation manikin during a training exercise inside Montclair\u2019s skills training laboratory.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Why Montclair\u2019s 4-Year BSN Program:<\/h2>\n